Grace versus Works

Ep. 5 - Grace versus Works

Episode Description

Have you ever wondered if you are doing enough to please God? Quietly hoped your good deeds might outweigh the bad on some kind of scale? That kind of thinking is everywhere — inside Christianity and outside it — and it is the very thing the Apostle Paul made the battleground of the gospel itself in Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians.

In this episode, Pastor Josh examines the grace of God in contrast to works. Grace is not unmerited favor as merely a human concept — it begins in the character of God Himself, declared from Exodus 34 onward as merciful, gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness. The deeper question follows: how can a holy God be both just and gracious at the same time? The answer is found in Romans 3 — God is just and the justifier of him that believes in Jesus. Grace and works are opposites; they do not mix. And the grace that saves the sinner is the same grace that teaches the believer to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

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Key Scriptures

Exodus 34:6 — The Lord Proclaims His Own Name

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

Psalm 86:15 — A God Full of Compassion

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalm 103:8–10 — He Hath Not Dealt with Us After Our Sins

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

1 Peter 5:10 — The God of All Grace

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Romans 3:24–26 — Just and the Justifier

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

John 1:16–17 — Grace and Truth Came by Jesus Christ

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:23 — All Have Sinned

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 11:6 — Grace and Works Cannot Mix

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Ephesians 2:8–9 — Saved by Grace through Faith

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 2:11–12 — Grace Teaches the Believer

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

2 Corinthians 12:9 — Grace Sufficient in Weakness

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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Episode Outline

1. Am I Doing Enough? — The common scale-of-deeds thinking that gets in the way of the gospel

2. Grace Begins with God — Exodus 34 and the name the Lord proclaims of Himself

3. The God of All Grace — Why one word “grace” is not enough (1 Peter 5:10)

4. Defining Grace — Unmerited favor; God’s riches at Christ’s expense

5. Just and the Justifier — How God satisfies His wrath against sin and still forgives (Romans 3:26)

6. Grace Comes Only by Jesus Christ — Not by Moses, Adam, or Abraham (John 1:17)

7. Grace versus Works — Why they are opposites and cannot mix (Romans 11:6)

8. The Spiritual Hamster Wheel — Why no amount of works can ever measure up

9. Grace for the Believer Too — Sufficient in weakness, teaching us to live godly (Titus 2)

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Questions Discussed

1. Have you ever wondered, am I doing enough to please God?

2. Is salvation something we earn by doing good — or a gift received by faith apart from our works?

3. What role, if any, do works play in the Christian life?

4. How can God be both just and gracious at the same time?

5. How is He able to pour out His wrath upon sin and yet extend grace?

6. Do you know the grace of God?

7. Do you understand the difference between grace and works?